Writer’s Roundtable: Concerned About Doc?

Roy Halladay had a bad year in 2012. It’s just that simple. He dealt with decreased velocity, shoulder troubles, and never got on track.

This is a huge year for Doc as he’s staring down the barrel of a $20 million team option for 2014. Whether he stays with the Phillies long-term could be contingent on what type of year he puts together – but mostly if he proves that shoulder is completely healthy.

Are you worried? The Phillies Nation writers got together to talk about it…

Question: On a scale of 1-10 (10 being most) what is your level of concern with Roy Halladay heading into 2013?

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Corey Seidman: 8. Not because I’m so worried about him, but because of how important he is to the success of this team. If Halladay isn’t the Roy Halladay of 2010 or 2011, there is a very small chance this team finishes higher than 3rd in the NL East.

Ryan Dinger: 3. Whenever a pitcher has shoulder issues, there is always reason to be concerned. However, if there is any pitcher in the game who can work himself back to health and make the necessary adjustments in his game to account for physical digression, it’s Halladay. His work ethic is legendary and he’s always been a cerebral pitcher. For that reason, I don’t think there’s is much reason to be overly concerned about Doc.

Don M. 3. Thanks to a rotation that includes Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee, the Phillies don’t especially need Halladay’s name mentioned in the discussion for “the best in baseball,” they just need him to be a solid top-of-the-rotation pitcher. The Phillies improved bullpen should help save some wear and tear on Halladay’s arm.

Jay Floyd: 1. If there’s anyone you can trust to put in the hard work and get himself in the best possible condition to compete and earn his paycheck, it’s Roy Halladay, the man with the greatest work ethic of anyone to ever put on a Philadelphia sports uniform.

Jon Nisula: 9. We learned that Roy Halladay can succumb to human injuries, and unfortunately it was his shoulder that was ailing him. I wish he could just stare at his own shoulder and scare it into never hurting again, but he can’t. And because of that, I’m really nervous.

Ian Riccaboni: 5. It was truly strange seeing a such an intense, dominating person, yet alone pitcher, like Doc be slowed down by anything. The shoulder is concerning but his well-documented work ethic leads me to believe that he can be really good once again for the Phillies in 2013.

Pat Gallen: 7. Agree with Corey. I don’t think I’m as much concerned with him getting back to a respectable level as I am about how much the team leans on he, Lee, and Hamels. It’s ridiculous to assume he’ll be a Top-3 Cy Young contender at age 36. But if he can be the third guy of the trio and give you a fully healthy season, his numbers will be just fine. Just don’t expect him to be the Doc of old.